8th August 2008

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The University of Ulster has been named as an organiser of the world’s greatest sports science gathering, to be held just days before the London 2012 Olympic Games.
 
Ulster is in a five-university consortium tasked “to inspire a learning legacy” through sport that will make the spirit of London 2012 endure long after the Games end.

Between 5,000 and 10,000 sports educators, specialist researchers and sports practitioners, including Olympic physiotherapists and trainers, are expected to attend the convention, which will be hosted at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in July 2012.
 
The consortium, which is led by Brunel University, London, has been awarded the contract to organise the 2012 International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport (ICSEMIS). The convention is held before each Olympics and is currently under way in Guangzhou, China.
 
A varied programme of activities, held in tandem with the convention, will be aimed at building support for sporting and activity lifestyles across the United Kingdom.
 
The central focus of the project is – in line with the aims of London 2012 – to ensure the benefits of sport are spread throughout the UK.
 
The award is further recognition of the University of Ulster’s stature as a university of sport and puts it centre-stage among the world sports science community.
 
The other universities are Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Strathclyde (Scotland), and the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.
Dr Marie Murphy, Co- Director of the Ulster Sports Academy, University of Ulster (pictured), said: “Being part of this winning consortium puts sport at Ulster on a new plain.  Each of the Universities involved in the Brunel ICSEMIS 2012 Consortium has a long and distinguished history in physical education and sport sciences.
 
“All incorporate former specialist institutions of physical education that trained, and continue to train, physical education teachers. It is this common heritage in physical education and sport sciences that underpins our commitment to provide a truly excellent 2012 Convention.
 
“To be awarded the honour and responsibility of helping to organise the world’s greatest sports science convention is a thrilling challenge. It’s a new gold standard for the University of Ulster.”

Professor Celia Brackenridge of Brunel University, convenor of the Brunel ICSEMIS 2012 Consortium, said: “Winning the bid is a great privilege and a considerable responsibility. We recognise that we are merely guardians of this event – on behalf of the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, International Federation of Sports Medicine and International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education
 
“The SECC will be an unbeatable venue for this prestigious event just before the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. As a bid team we were always committed to spreading the benefits of the London Games to other parts of the UK and this is what we now plan to do.
 
“The five university partners in the Consortium will each act as a hub for a regional university network: each of these will develop a programme of activities to engage ordinary members of the public, especially young people, in the wonder and excitement of sport science. Our aim is to ‘inspire a learning legacy’ that will show the population at large how the sciences, education and medicine in sport can enrich their lives.”
 
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For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young